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Greetings in Native Alaskan Languages

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This page contains greetings in native languages of Alaska.

Ethnologue lists 245 languages spoken in the United States.  23 of these languages are Alaskan Native languages.

There are 21 languages on this page.

 

   

 

 

Ahtena [aht] (United States: Alaska.)

Nts'e dit'ae?

how are you? spoken to one person in Chistochina dialect

Ugheli 'elaen

reply to Nts'e dit'ae

Nts'e doht'ae?

how are you? spoken to a group in Chistochina dialect

Ugheli tsi'laen

reply to Nts'e doht'ae

 

Aleut [ale] (United States of America: Alaska.)

Aang

general greeting
Aang huzuchix greeting spoken to a group of people in the Atkan dialect
Aang ingan informal greeting in the Eastern dialect
Aang agitaadang greeting spoken to a friend

Qilam ixamnaa

morning greeting

Qilachxizax

morning greeting
Angaliichxizax

afternoon greeting
Amgiichxizax evening greetin

Angali kingachxicax

nighttime greeting
Alqutaxt?

how are you?
Maqagilakaq reply to Alqutaxt
Alqutaltxin?

how are you?
Alqutaadaltxin?

how are you?
Ixamnaxtalix welcome greeting
Qaĝaasakung huzuu haqakux welcome greeting

 

Chinook Wawa [chn] (Canada: British Columbia. United States of America: Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.)

Lhaxeyem general greeting
Khahowya general greeting
Nah sikhs greeting spoken to a good friend
Lhaxeyem nayka sikhs greeting spoken to a good friend
Nah cheechako greeting spoken to a stranger
Kloshe sun greeting spoken to one person
Kloshe konaway greeting spoken to a group of people
Kahta maika? how are you?
Kloshe mahsie reply to Kahta maika

 

Degexit'an [ing] (United States of America: Alaska.)
Ade' general greeting
Ade' yixydz general greeting spoken to a group
Ade' yi'odz ningiyo general greeting spoken to a visitor
Ndadz dengit'a? how are you?
Godin dhist'a reply to Ndadz dengit'a
Ndadz nixit' ixet'a? how are you? spoken to a group
Ndadz duxt'a? how are you? spoken to a group

 

Eyak [eya] (United States of America: Alaska.)
'I general greeting
Ishu? general greeting, literally "is it you?"
K'eet iit'eh? how are you?
K'udzuu xiłeh reply to K'eet iit'eh
Awa'ahdahaanda'laxsa'a'ch'i welcome greeting spoken to a visitor ("thank you for coming here")
Awa'ahdah literally: thank you

 

Gwich'in [gwi] (United States of America: Alaska.  Canada: northwestern region.)

Drin gwiinzii general greeting
Neenjit dôonch'yáa? how are you? spoken in the the Alaskan dialect
Neenjit dàgòoch'i? how are you? spoken in the Canadian dialect
Neenjit dàgòonch’uu? how are you? spoken in the Canadian dialect
Juk drin neenjit dàgòonch’uu? how are you today? spoken in the Canadian dialect
Sheenjit gwiinzii reply to Neenjit dàgòonch’uu and Neenjit dôonch'yáa
Nenànkäk nätäydëk häjit shò trì'nlay welcome greeting spoken in the Alaskan dialect

 

Haida, Northern [hdn] (Canada: Haida Gwaii. United States: Alaska.)

Sánuu dáng gíidang? general greeting
Gasán uu dáng gíidang?  general greeting
Díi 'láagang reply to Sánuu dáng gíidang and Gasán uu dáng gíidang spoken by one person
Íitl' 'láagang reply to Sánuu dáng gíidang and Gasán uu dáng gíidang spoken by a group of people

 

Hän [amf] (United States: Dawson City. Canada: Yukon Territory.)

Nänjit dähònch’e? how are you? to one person
Shänjit hozo reply to Nänjit dähònch’e
Nëkhwänjit dähònch’e? how are you? to a group of people
Niyänjit hozo reply to Nëkhwänjit dähònch’e
Juk kàhmän' nänjit dähònch’e? how are you this morning? to one person
K’ähmänt hozo morning greeting
K’ämänt hozo morning greeting
Drin tätl’ät dähozo afternoon greeting
Khäwts’ä’ hozo evening greeting

 

Inupiatun, North Alaska [esi] (United States of America: Alaska.)
  Uvlaalluaqtaq morning greeting
  Qaimarutin welcome greeting

 

Inupiatun, North West Alaska [esk] (United States of America: Alaska.)
  Halauġikpiñ general greeting
  Uvlaasatkun morning greeting
  Uvlaalluataq morning greeting
Unnusatkun afternoon greeting
  Unnuaqsatkun nighttime greeting
  Qanuq itpich how are you?
  Qanuġitpich how are you?
  Qanuġitpit how are you?
Nakuuyuŋa reply to Qanuq itpich, Qanuġitpich, and Qanuġitpit
  Nakuuruŋa reply to Qanuq itpich, Qanuġitpich, and Qanuġitpit
  Nakuuruŋa taikuu reply to Qanuq itpich, Qanuġitpich, and Qanuġitpit
Qaimarutin welcome greeting

 

Koyukon [koy] (United States of America: Alaska.)
Dzaanh nezoonh general greeting
Nedaa do'eent'aa? how are you?
Do'eent'aa? how are you?
Do'eelstaa'aa reply to Do'eent'aa
Eszoonh reply to Eenzooneeh' and Do'eent'aa spoken by one person
Ts'eezoonh reply to Eenzooneeh' and Do'eent'aa spoken by a group of people
Enaa basee' neenyo welcome greeting
Enaa neenyo welcome greeting

 

Nisga'a [ncg] (United State of America: Alaska.)

  Ńit general greeting
  Amaa hiihlukw morning greeting
  Amaa galaanhl sikwsaxs afternoon greeting
  Ndahl wilaa wilin? how are you?
  Aam wilaa wilina? how are you?
  Aam reply to Aam wilaa wilina and Ndahl wilaa wilin
  Aam wilaa wiliy reply to Aam wilaa wilina and Ndahl wilaa wilin

 

Tanacross [tcb] (United States of America: Alaska.)

Nts'é t'ínt'eh? how are you? spoken to one person
Sôgh t'iht'eh reply to Nts'é t'ínt'eh
Nts'é t'áht'eh? how are you? spoken to a group of people
Sôgh ts'int'eh reply to Nts'é t'áht'eh
  Nts'é dit'aen? what are you doing?

 

Tanaina [tfn] (United States of America: Alaska.)

Nda'ich' q'u t'int'a? how are you? spoken in the Coastal-Inland and Nondalton dialects
Ch'adach' q'u t'ent'a? how are you? spoken in the Upper Inlet dialect
Yagheli reply to Nda'ich' q'u t'int'a and Ch'adach' q'u t'ent'a
Yagheli eshlan reply to Nda'ich' q'u t'int'a
Yagheli ilan du? how are you? spoken in the Upper Inlet dialect
Aa' yagheli elan reply to Yagheli ilan du spoken in the Upper Inlet dialect
Yaghali du? how are you? spoken in the Kenai Peninsula dialect
Aa' yaghali reply to Yaghali du spoken in the Kenai Peninsula dialect
Naghe nduninyu welcome greeting spoken to a visitor in the Nondalton dialect
Aa', dunshyu reply to Naghe nduninyu
Dunilggux, chin'an gheli welcome greeting ("come in, thanks for coming") in the Nondalton dialect
Shegh nuninyu welcome greeting spoken to a visitor in the Nondalton dialect
Shegh zidu welcome greeting spoken to a visitor in the Nondalton dialect

 

Tanana, Lower [taa] (United States of America: Alaska.)

Do'eent'aa general greeting
Eszroonh reply to Do'eent'aa

 

Tanana, Upper [tau] (United States of America: Alaska.  Canada.)

Nts'ätdiit'eh

 general greeting in the Beaver Creek dialect
Nohts'eneh'ii tsin'ii choh ts'eninthän general greeting in the Beaver Creek dialect

 

Tlingit [tli] (Canada: British Columbia.  United States of America: Alaska.)

Waé ákwé? general greeting (literally, "is it you?")
Yak'éi yagiyee general daytime greeting
Yak'éi yi ts'ootaat morning greeting
Wáa sá iyatee? how are you?

Má sá iyatee?

 how are you?
Xat yak'éi reply to Wáa sá iyatee and Má sá iyatee
Tlél wáa sá reply to Wáa sá iyatee and Má sá iyatee
Yak'éi ixwsiteeni welcome greeting
Yak'éi haat yigoodee welcome greeting

 

Tsimshian [tsi] (United States of America: Alaska.  Canada: British Columbia.)

'Niit general greeting
Nda wila waan? how are you? spoken to one person
Ndaayu wila waan? how are you? spoken to one person
Aam wila waalu reply to Nda wila waan and Ndaayu wila waan
Nda wila waalsm? how are you? spoken to a group of people
Ndaayu wila waalsm? how are you? spoken to a group of people
Aam wila waalm reply to Nda wila waalsm and Ndaayu wila waalsm
Aam reply to Nda wila waan and Nda wila waal shim
Aam dey reply to Nda wila waan and Nda wila waal shim spoken to a man 
 

Yup'ik, Central [esu] (United States of America: Alaskan coast.)

Camai general greeting spoken in the Cup'ig dialect
Unuakukegci morning greeting spoken in the Cup'ig dialect
Cangacit? how are you? spoken in the Cup'ig dialect
Cangacit ernerpak? how are you today? spoken in the Cup'ig dialect
Canritua reply to Cangacit and Cangacit ernerpak
Wii assirtua reply to Cangacit and Cangacit ernerpak
Waqaa welcome greeting spoken to a person visiting at a house
Quyana tailuci welcome greeting 
 

Yup'ik, Pacific Gulf [ems] (United States of America: Alaska.)

Cama'i general greeting spoken in the Alutiiq dialect
Asirtuten-qaa? how are you? spoken in the Alutiiq dialect
Asirtua reply to Asirtuten-qaa spoken in the Alutiiq dialect 
 

Yupik, Siberian [ess] (United States of America: Alaska.  Russia: Siberia.)

Xaau general greeting
Uyuq general greeting
Natesiin? how are you?

 

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Last updated on December 30, 2010.